Let the dogs out for Run to Remember
He was bred to drag sleds through mountains and hunt large game, but Echo likes nothing more than eating, sleeping and relaxing.
His Christchurch owner, Aimee Bailes, adopted the 9-year-old alaskan malamute from Husky Rescue NZ just over two years ago.
‘‘It’s a bit cliche but I loved him as soon as I saw him. He’s the best thing we’ve ever done and just the coolest dog in the entire world,’’ she said.
Bailes loved the look of wolf-breed dogs, such as huskies, malamutes and german shepherds, but had never owned one so bringing him home was a ‘‘shock to the system’’.
Despite his genetics, Echo’s prey drive around their cat has not been a problem and the pair play together happily with the family’s three children.
‘‘Normally, you couldn’t have a dog like him with anything soft and fluffy in the house because he’d just go for it, but it’s been fine . . . they get on great.’’
Malamutes aren’t your typical family pet. They’re not good at recall and require vigorous exercise. When Echo first arrived, Bailes walked him about 5 kilometres daily but soon found it was ‘‘too much’’ with his ongoing health issues.
She’s since cut that back to around 80km a month, but in September surpassed the
100km mark, favouring walks in Craigieburn and acting as the tail-end Charlie for the
10km Night Series.
Despite being ‘‘a bit lazy’’, Echo loves exploring mountains and going on adventures, so the pair will walk the Run to Remember through Christchurch’s Port Hills in March.
An event spokeswoman said about a fifth of entrants planned to bring their dog along.
Last year a record 1200 people entered, along with about 40 four-legged friends.
It was the first year entrants had been given the green light to bring their dogs on the course, and a great encouragement to involve the entire family unit, she said.
Animals will not be allowed to ride on the bus, so owners need to drive or walk their dogs to Victoria Park, on Dyers Pass Rd, in Cashmere, and plan how to get home from the finishing point in Hansen Park.
Owners also needed to pack rubbish bags and keep their dog on a lead at all times.
The Run to Remember is scheduled for March 8. Adult entry is $22, ages 5 to 15 are $15, and under-5s are free.
5-minute quiz
1. In which European country did volunteers from New Zealand die fighting in a civil war in 1936?
2. Was Andre the Giant a wrestler, a cartoon character or a circus performer?
3. Complete the title of a No 1 hit song by Billy Ocean: Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My …
4. What comes in shapes known as the tulip, the balloon and the flute?
5. Which 1980s war was described by author Jorges Luis Borgias as the equivalent of two bald men fighting over a comb?
6. The 2019 movie Doctor Sleep is a sequel to which 1980 horror classic?
7. By adding one letter, what word meaning a rheumatic pain in the lower back can be changed to one meaning a flowering plant?
8. Complete the name of a famous London food store: Fortnum and ......
9. Which seafood, dairy and vegetable products brand has its headquarters in Motueka?
10. Would you see a tarn in a desert, in the mountains or in a jungle?